Higgston, Georgia
Seal of Georgia
Higgston · Montgomery County, Georgia
Population 400 (est. 2026: ~100)
Source: Census ACS 2023 · ACS 2023 + -27.0% annual growth projection

Higgston, Georgia

Montgomery County, Georgia · Population 314

Higgston sits in the pine flatwoods of Montgomery County in southeast Georgia, roughly equidistant between the small cities of Vidalia and Mount Vernon along U.S. Highway 280. It is one of the quieter incorporated places in a county that itself is one of Georgia's least populous — Montgomery County holds just 8,610 people spread across a largely rural landscape of timber, agriculture, and small communities. Higgston is not a commuter suburb or a retirement destination. It is a working-class small town where most residents have deep roots, median age skews toward middle age, and everyday life depends on a car.

People & Demographics

Higgston's ACS 2022 population estimate is 355, with 151 households and an average household size of 2.35. The median age of 46.5 is meaningfully older than Georgia's statewide median, reflecting a pattern common to rural southeast Georgia where younger residents often leave for larger metro areas. The racial composition is 196 white and 147 Black residents — a roughly 55/41 split that reflects the county's broader demographics. There are 73 children under 18, representing about one in five residents.

Economy & Employment

The median household income in Higgston is $32,196, and per capita income sits at $25,713. Both figures trail Georgia's statewide medians substantially — Georgia's median household income runs well above $60,000 — placing Higgston among the lower-income communities in the state. Poverty touches a notable share of the population: 61 residents fall below the poverty line out of a total of 355.

Of the 173 residents in the labor force, 15 are unemployed, an unemployment rate of roughly 8.7%. The county economy revolves around agriculture, timber, light manufacturing, and services centered in Vidalia and Mount Vernon. Vidalia, about 11 miles southwest, is the county seat's closest commercial neighbor and the employment hub for much of this region — home to the Vidalia onion industry and a broader retail and healthcare corridor.

Housing

Higgston has 170 total housing units, of which 151 are occupied and 19 sit vacant — an 11% vacancy rate that is common in rural Georgia towns of this size. The ownership split is nearly even: 79 owner-occupied units versus 72 renter-occupied. The median home value is $87,500, which is low even by rural Georgia standards and reflects both income levels and the limited resale market in small Montgomery County communities. The median gross rent of $935 is notable — it runs high relative to local incomes, meaning renters in Higgston are paying a significant share of their earnings toward housing.

Schools

Higgston students attend schools in two systems depending on grade level and district lines. Montgomery County's own system serves the rural county with three campuses: Montgomery County High School (grades 9–12, 276 students), Montgomery County Middle School (grades 6–8, 222 students), and Montgomery County Elementary School (grades pre-K through 5, 453 students).

Some Higgston-area students also fall within the Vidalia City Schools orbit. Vidalia's system includes J. D. Dickerson Primary School (grades pre-K through 1, 456 students), Sally Dailey Meadows Elementary School (grades 2–5, 647 students), J. R. Trippe Middle School (grades 6–8, 531 students), and Vidalia Comprehensive High School (grades 9–12, 732 students) — the largest school in the immediate region.

Getting Around

Higgston is car-dependent without exception. Of 155 workers, 133 drive alone and 17 carpool. Zero workers use public transit and zero walk to work. Only 3 work from home. The aggregate commute time of 4,100 minutes across 155 workers works out to roughly 26 minutes per worker one-way — consistent with driving to Vidalia, Mount Vernon, or Lyons for employment. There is no local transit infrastructure.

Healthcare

No hospitals are located in Higgston. The nearest hospital access for Montgomery County residents is generally through Vidalia, where Meadows Regional Medical Center serves the area. For a full list of licensed providers with a Higgston address on file, the CMS NPI Registry can be searched directly: NPI Provider Search — Higgston, GA.

Library

The Montgomery County Library is located 0.9 miles from Higgston's center and serves as the public library for the entire county. Phone: (912) 583-2780. For a town of 314 with no local commercial amenities, the county library functions as a meaningful community resource.

Natural Hazards

Montgomery County has been on the receiving end of repeated federally declared disasters, and the record is worth reading carefully before planting roots here. Hurricane Helene in 2024 produced two separate declarations (EM-3616 and DR-4830). Hurricane Debby also struck in 2024 (EM-3607). Hurricane Idalia hit in 2023 (DR-4738). Before that: Hurricane Michael in 2018, Hurricane Irma in 2017, and a severe storms and flooding event in 2016. Tropical Storm Frances hit in 2004. The county even received an emergency declaration in 2005 related to Hurricane Katrina evacuation logistics. A severe winter storm declaration was issued in January 2026 (EM-3642).

The pattern is consistent: this part of southeast Georgia sits in a corridor that catches tropical systems moving inland from the Gulf and the Atlantic, and the county has been in federal disaster status roughly once a year on average across the last decade.

Government & Municipal Code

Higgston is an incorporated town with its own municipal code, published through Municode. The full code is available at library.municode.com/ga/higgston-town-georgia. The town does not have a locally adopted building code on file, which is relevant for anyone planning construction or renovation — permitting and code compliance questions may default to county or state standards.

Weather

The nearest weather observation station is Ailey, approximately 0.9 miles away. Current forecasts for Higgston's coordinates are available through the National Weather Service:

Given the FEMA disaster history above, monitoring active alerts during hurricane season (June through November) is not optional — it is routine life in southeast Georgia.

References

The law belongs to the people. Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 590 U.S. (2020)